CN111261042B

CN111261042B - Display device

Info

Publication number: CN111261042B
Application number: CN201911148162.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 全胜梧; 尹荣俊; 李信石
Original assignee: LG Display Co Ltd
Current assignee: LG Display Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-11-30
Filing date: 2019-11-21
Publication date: 2022-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-21
Also published as: CN115035796A; US11076499B2; EP3660817B1; CN111261042A; KR20200065456A; EP3660817A1; US20200178410A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a display device including: a first device frame and a second device frame arranged close to each other; a panel disposed on the first and second device frames; and a folding hinge unit disposed between the first device frame and the second device frame. The folding hinge unit includes: a plurality of chain hinges arranged between the first device frame and the second device frame, the plurality of chain hinges configured to fold the first device frame and the second device frame inward and outward; and an X-hinge including first and second connection chains coupled to the chain hinge and configured to control a folding trajectory of the chain hinge.

Description

Display device

This application claims priority from korean patent application No. 10-2018-0151948, filed on 30/11/2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a foldable display device.

Background

Recently, in an information-oriented society, importance of a display device as a visual information transfer medium has been highlighted, and in order to occupy a major position in the future, the display device should satisfy requirements such as low power consumption, thin thickness, light weight, high definition, and the like.

The display is divided into: self-luminous light emitting displays such as Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs), Electroluminescence (EL) elements, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), Vacuum Fluorescent Displays (VFDs), Field Emission Displays (FEDs), Plasma Display Panels (PDPs), and Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs); and non-emissive displays that are not self-emissive, such as Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs).

As the technology advances, flexible display devices are being manufactured using flexible materials such as plastic instead of the non-flexible glass substrate applied to conventional displays, and thus maintain their display performance even if bent like paper, the flexible display devices are rapidly developed as next-generation display devices.

The flexible display device may be classified into a non-breakable display having high durability using a plastic thin film transistor substrate instead of glass, a bendable display that can be bent without being cracked, a rollable display that can be rolled, a foldable display, and the like. These flexible display devices may have advantages such as space utilization and internal design advantages, and may be applied to various fields.

In particular, in order to realize a large scale as well as ultra-thinning, light weight, and miniaturization, research into a foldable display device that is portable in a folded state and displays an image in an unfolded state is being vigorously conducted.

The foldable display device can be applied to various fields such as not only mobile devices including mobile phones, ultra mobile PCs, electronic books, and electronic paper, but also televisions, monitors, and the like.

The foldable display device includes a hinge mechanism that enables the foldable display device to be folded and unfolded.

Here, the commonly used hinge mechanism is implemented as a multi-link hinge having various structures including a chain or a biaxial folding hinge including two hinge shafts and connected to each other by a central body.

Further, the hinge mechanism described above may be classified into an inner folding hinge that is folded under a condition that the display panel is located inside the display device and an outer folding hinge that is folded under a condition that the display panel is located outside the display device according to the position of the display panel.

When a foldable display device is implemented using both an inner folding hinge and an outer folding hinge, it is difficult to control both the curvature and trajectory of the folding segment at the same time, and thus it is difficult to commercialize the inner/outer folding hinge mechanism.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a display device that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a display device having a folding hinge unit that can be used as an inner folding hinge and an outer folding hinge and can control a trajectory of a folding section.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a display device includes: a first device frame and a second device frame arranged close to each other; a panel disposed on the first and second device frames; and a folding hinge unit disposed between the first device frame and the second device frame, wherein the folding hinge unit includes: a plurality of chain hinges disposed between the first device frame and the second device frame, the plurality of chain hinges configured to fold the first device frame and the second device frame inward and outward; and an X-hinge including first and second connection chains coupled to the chain hinge and configured to control a folding trajectory of the chain hinge.

The central regions of the chain hinges may be connected such that the chain hinges are rotatable relative to each other.

The chain hinge has the following shape: the shape has a decreasing width from its convex central region to its tapered upper and lower regions.

The first and second connecting links may have the same length.

The first linking chain may include: a first fixing pin fixed to one of the chain hinges at a position close to the first device frame; a second fixing pin fixed to the other chain hinge at a position close to the second device frame; and a first connecting member connected to the first fixing pin and the second fixing pin.

The second connecting chain may include: a third fixing pin fixed to one of the chain hinges at a position close to the first device frame; a fourth fixing pin fixed to the other chain hinge at a position close to the second device frame; and a second connecting member connected to the third fixing pin and the fourth fixing pin.

The first fixing pin may be located closer to the first device frame than the third fixing pin, and the fourth fixing pin may be located closer to the second device frame than the second fixing pin.

The first to fourth fixing pins may be coupled to upper regions of the corresponding chain hinges.

A sliding section having a length changed by a sliding plate and a spring configured to control sliding may be formed in at least one of the first device frame or the second device frame.

The chain hinge and the X-hinge are formed of metal.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating an inner folding operation of the folding hinge unit of fig. 1;

fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating an unfolding operation of the folding hinge unit of fig. 1;

fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating an outer folding operation of the folding hinge unit of fig. 1; and

fig. 5(a) to 5(D) are views illustrating trajectory control by the folding hinge unit of fig. 1.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the embodiments, it will be understood that when a component such as a layer (film), a region, a pattern, or a structure is referred to as being "on" or "under" another component such as a substrate, another layer (film), a region, a pad, or a pattern, the component may be "directly" on "or" under "another portion, or other components may be interposed between the two components. In addition, it should be understood that the criteria for the upward or outward direction of each layer are described based on the drawings.

For convenience and clarity of description, shapes, sizes, ratios, angles, numbers, and the like disclosed in the drawings are enlarged, omitted, or schematically shown. Moreover, the dimensions of the corresponding elements do not fully reflect the actual dimensions of the elements. In the following description of the embodiments, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are shown in different drawings. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating an inner folding operation of the folding hinge unit of fig. 1, fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating an unfolding operation of the folding hinge unit of fig. 1, fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating an outer folding operation of the folding hinge unit of fig. 1, and fig. 5(a) to 5(D) are views illustrating trajectory control performed by the folding hinge unit of fig. 1.

Referring to fig. 1 to 5(D), a display device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first frame 20, a second frame 40, a first device frame 120, a second device frame 140, and a folding hinge unit 101.

The first frame 20 and the second frame 40 may be arranged close to each other and receive the panel 10 such that the inner folding operation and the outer folding operation of the panel 10 can be achieved by the folding hinge unit 101.

As exemplarily shown in fig. 2 to 4, the first and

second device frames

120 and 140 may be arranged close to each other and support a lower portion of the panel 10. For example, the first device frame 120 may be located inside the first frame 20, and the second device frame 140 may be located inside the second frame 40.

The panel 10 includes a display area in which an image is displayed by a pixel array including a plurality of pixels. The display area may include a first display area in which the first device frame 120 is located, a second display area in which the second device frame 140 is located, and a bending area.

The first device frame 120 may be disposed proximate to the second device frame 140, wherein the bending region may be disposed between the first device frame 120 and the second device frame 140. The bending region may be defined as a region located between the first display region and the second display region of the panel 10. The bending region may be spread in a flat surface state or bent in a curved surface state having a constant radius of curvature according to folding.

The first frame 20 may support or accommodate various components corresponding to the first display region of the panel 10, for example, a first device frame 120, and the second frame 40 may support or accommodate various components corresponding to the second display region of the panel 10, for example, a second device frame 140.

Alternatively, the first display area and the second display area may have the same size, but is not limited thereto. In addition, one of the first display region or the second display region may have a larger size than the other display region. In this case, in the folded state of the panel 10, a portion of the display area having a relatively large size is exposed to the outside, and the exposed portion of the display area may continuously display the date, time, remaining battery amount, notification, and the like even when the display device 1 is closed.

Here, the panel 10 may be a flexible organic light emitting display panel, a flexible electrophoretic display panel, a flexible electrowetting display panel, or a flexible quantum dot display panel.

The panel 10 is positioned on the first and

second device frames

120 and 140, and may be positioned inside (on an inner surface) or outside (on an outer surface) of the first and

second device frames

120 and 140 when the panel is folded. Of course, another panel 10 may be positioned under the first and

second device frames

120 and 140, as needed. Accordingly, the panel 10 may be located on both the inner and outer surfaces of the first and second device frames 120 and 140 or the panel 10 may be located on one of the inner and outer surfaces of the first and second device frames 120 and 140 in the folded state.

Here, the folding may be defined as a folding operation or an unfolding operation including a bending region, and may be achieved by folding the hinge unit 101.

The folding hinge unit 101 may be disposed between the first device frame 120 and the second device frame 140.

The folding hinge unit 101 has the following structure: wherein a plurality of chain hinges 100 are continuously connected to form an assembly, and an X hinge is coupled to some segments of the assembly of the chain hinges 100 to be foldable and unfoldable, and both an inner folding operation and an outer folding operation can be achieved.

Here, an assembly formed by continuously connecting the chain hinges 100 may be referred to as a chain hinge assembly, a chain hinge continuum, or the like.

The chain hinge 100 may be disposed between the first device frame 120 and the second device frame 140.

Here, the chain hinge 100 is continuously connected to be rotatable, and may thus fold the first and second device frames 120 and 140 in the inward and outward directions.

The chain hinge 100 may have the following shape: its width gradually decreases from its convex central region to its tapered upper and lower regions. For example, each chain hinge 100 may have a first region 102 forming an upper region thereof, a second region 103 forming a central region thereof, and a third region 104 forming a lower region thereof, and the first region 102 and the third region 104 may have a symmetrical shape (e.g., the chain hinge 100 has a diamond shape or a symmetrical trapezoidal shape).

Here, the central region, i.e., the second region 103, of the chain hinge 100 may be connected such that the chain hinges 100 are rotatable with respect to each other. For example, a pin, hinge, or the like may be coupled to a central region of the chain hinge 100. Accordingly, the chain hinge 100 may rotate, and thus the position of the chain hinge 100 may be changed with a constant rotation radius.

The above-described chain hinge assembly has a continuous connection structure having a small mechanical height difference, and thus may have a constant rotation radius even if the chain hinge assembly is folded inward or outward, thereby providing a smooth inward/outward folding requirement of the folding hinge unit 101. Further, the chain hinge assembly does not require installation of an outer edge unit required for controlling curvature when a configuration in which a radius of curvature is changed according to an inside folding/outside folding operation is applied as in the conventional chain hinge, and thus can have a simple configuration.

The X-hinge may include a first connection chain 200 and a second connection chain 300 coupled to the chain hinge 100, and may control a folding trajectory of the above-described chain hinge 100 (more particularly, a chain hinge assembly).

Here, the first and

second connection chains

200 and 300 may have the same length. Of course, the first and

second connection chains

200 and 300 may have different lengths according to embodiments.

The first connection chain 200 may include a first fixing pin 210, a second fixing pin 220, and a first connector 230, and the second connection chain 300 may include a third fixing pin 310, a fourth fixing pin 320, and a second connector 330.

In the first connection chain 200, a first fixing pin 210 may be fixed to one chain hinge 100 located at a position close to the first device frame 120, and a second fixing pin 220 may be fixed to the other chain hinge 100 located at a position close to the second device frame 140. The first connector 230 may be connected to the first fixing pin 210 and the second fixing pin 220.

In the second connection chain 300, a third fixing pin 310 may be fixed to one chain hinge 100 located at a position close to the first device frame 120, and a fourth fixing pin 320 may be fixed to the other chain hinge 100 located at a position close to the second device frame 140. The second connector 330 may be connected to the third fixing pin 310 and the fourth fixing pin 320.

With respect to the respective positions of the first to fourth fixing pins 210, 220, 310 and 320 at the chain hinge 100, the position of the first fixing pin 210 may be closer to the first device frame 120 than the position of the third fixing pin 310, and the position of the fourth fixing pin 320 may be closer to the second device frame 140 than the position of the second fixing pin 220.

Accordingly, the first link 230 and the second link 330 may cross in an X shape in the inward folded state shown in fig. 2 and the outward folded state shown in fig. 4, and be positioned parallel to each other or overlap each other in the unfolded state shown in fig. 3.

Here, the first to fourth fixing pins 210, 220, 310 and 320 of the first and

second connection chains

200 and 300 may be coupled to any one of the upper, central and lower regions of the respective chain hinges 100 as needed. Although fig. 2 illustrates various positions of the first to fourth fixing pins 210, 220, 310 and 320 coupled to the chain hinge 100, the first to fourth fixing pins 210, 220, 310 and 320 of the first and

second connection chains

200 and 300 may also be coupled to the upper region, i.e., the first region 102, of the corresponding chain hinge 100, respectively, as exemplarily illustrated in fig. 3 and 4.

The chain hinge 100 and the X hinge may be formed of plastic, metal, or the like.

A sliding section 121 may be formed in at least one of the first or second device frames 120 or 140 to which the above-described folding unit 101 is coupled, the sliding section 121 having a length changed by a sliding plate (not shown) and a spring (not shown) for controlling sliding. In the foldable display device, since a sliding structure implemented by a sliding plate and a spring is known through a previously filed technology, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As exemplarily shown in fig. 2, since the display device having the folding hinge unit 101 including the above-described elements according to this embodiment is folded in an inner folding state in which the panel 10 is located inside the first and second device frames 120 and 140, the chain hinge 100 may bend the panel 10 by the operation of the X hinge with a constant curvature and trajectory in the order shown in fig. 5(a) to 5 (D). Here, the sliding section 121 of the first device frame 120 is changed to a section B having a minimum length.

Further, as exemplarily shown in fig. 3, when the display apparatus becomes an unfolded state to unfold the panel 10, the chain hinges 100 may be disposed in parallel by the operation of the X hinge with a constant curvature and trajectory and maintain the horizontal state of the panel 10. Here, the sliding section 121 in the first device frame 120 is changed to a section a having an increased length.

Further, as exemplarily shown in fig. 4, since the display device is folded in an outer folding state in which the panel 10 is located outside the first and second device frames 120 and 140, the chain hinge 100 may bend the panel 10 by the operation of the X hinge with a constant curvature and trajectory. Here, the sliding section 121 in the first device frame 120 is changed to a section a + B having a length corresponding to the sum of the length of the section B in the collapsed state and the length of the section a in the expanded state.

The display device according to this embodiment can control the curvature and trajectory of the folding section using the folding hinge unit 101 including the chain hinge 100 for controlling the curvature and the X hinge for controlling the trajectory, and thus can achieve both the inside folding operation and the outside folding operation.

The above display apparatus according to the present invention may be applied to various electronic devices such as TVs, smart phones, tablet PCs, and the like.

Further, although not shown in the drawings, the display device employing the folding hinge unit 101 according to the embodiment may be applied to other types of folding structures including a sliding plate and a spring.

As is apparent from the above description, the display device according to the present invention controls the curvature and trajectory of the folding section using the folding hinge unit including the chain hinge for controlling the curvature and the X hinge for controlling the trajectory, and thus can implement both the inside folding operation and the outside folding operation.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

a first device frame and a second device frame arranged close to each other;

a panel disposed on the first device frame and the second device frame; and

a folding hinge unit disposed between the first device frame and the second device frame,

wherein the folding hinge unit includes:

a plurality of chain hinges disposed between the first device frame and the second device frame, the plurality of chain hinges configured to fold the first device frame and the second device frame inward and outward; and

an X hinge including first and second connection chains coupled to the same side of the chain hinge and configured to control a folding trajectory of the chain hinge,

wherein the first and second connecting strands are not directly connected to each other; and

wherein central regions of the chain hinges are connected such that the chain hinges are rotatable relative to each other.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the chain hinges has a shape of: the shape has a decreasing width from its convex central region to its tapered upper and lower regions.

3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the first connection chain and the second connection chain have the same length.

4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the first connection chain comprises:

a first fixing pin fixed to one of the chain hinges at a position close to the first device frame;

a second fixing pin fixed to another chain hinge at a position close to the second device frame; and

a first connector connected to the first and second fixing pins.

5. The display device of claim 4, wherein the second connection chain comprises:

a third fixing pin fixed to one of the chain hinges at a position close to the first device frame;

a fourth fixing pin fixed to another chain hinge at a position close to the second device frame; and

a second connector connected to the third and fourth fixing pins.

6. The display device according to claim 5, wherein a position of the first fixing pin is closer to the first device frame than a position of the third fixing pin, and a position of the fourth fixing pin is closer to the second device frame than a position of the second fixing pin.

7. The display device according to claim 6, wherein the first to fourth fixing pins are coupled to upper regions of corresponding chain hinges.

8. The display device according to claim 7, wherein a sliding section having a length changed by a sliding plate and a spring configured to control sliding is formed in at least one of the first device frame or the second device frame.

9. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the chain hinge and the X hinge are formed of metal.